The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-05
THOUGHTSFROM THE PULPIT
First of Rev. E. J. Gantz's Series of Lect-
ures for the Benefit of Young Men.
Rev. G. +. McNutt Discusses from Christian
STANDPOINT the Subject of General Mas
ter Workman Powderly's Lecture.

For the first of his series OF lectures to young
text, .And be said a certain man had two sons"
Luke XIV, IL Promising that his discourse
would be largely based on the parable of the
prodiesl son, he proce eded to the consideration
Of these opening words. This statement alone
carries us back to boyhood with it's joys and
Iorrows, that made life pleasure seemingly a
burden. We may imagine here two boys, one
lull Of life and ambition, the other cautious and
Nmid; one dutiful and obedient. the other. from
the mere superabundance of life. at times unruly.
They as other boys Sometimes they prepare
their lessons carefully and other times not, and
with thousand things that might be
iectured growing out of their relations as
brothers and their relations to the world. We
will look at man being. in three relations.
physically, mentally and morally. To young
physician the most interesting study is anatomy.
The structure of the human frame is a never
snding subject OF inquiry. With all the study
that has been given TO it many mysteries
main. Centuries passed before the circulation
Of the blood was understood, and
other important truths will prob
ably be brought to human knowledge
in centuries to come. We know much about
the parts of bodies and their construction.
some of the phenomena of life. To most of us
the physical structure of man is not subject of
absorbing interest. We prefer to know his
thoughts his beliefs, his fears and his aspira-
tions. Yet these closely dependent upon his
physical being. An abnormal body means de-
ranged mental and moral organism. The phys
ical organism has its uses when rightly con-
trolled. 1t is duty TO develop ourselves
physically in perfect symmetry rs possible.
1t is our duty to improve our appearance
can. Every man owes 1t to mis- fellow men
put his best side out. not for purposes of nypoc
risy, but TO make living more agreeable. The
face should be like the sky, whose shifting
clouds and ceaselessly- moving sun, moon and
stars present ever-cnanging pictures of beauty.
Mentally, man has three Observation-Disclosures.
emotion or feeling, and volition or will. Every
one must have some thought. Unless you
tnlnk, unless you can grasp ana assimilate
Ideas, you can accom- llsh nothing for the beDe-
fit of your fellows Emotion is equally impor-
tant. 1t makes a great deal of difference in your
work whether you love the world hate
1t, whether you labor joyously or toll like the
slave beneath the LASH But thought and feel
Ing practically valueless without volition.
That brings action, and action is what counts in
life. man may think badly of me and feel
angry towards me. but it will not affect me
nearly much as if he knocks down So far
as effect Is concerned volition is everything.
The moral nature Is defined by old writer
the Unborn impulse that urges TO
subject ourselves to the will of God" One may
n
than that. "Other men may not be impelled to
subject themselves to my God" continued the
speaker, but they are all mpelled subject
themselves to some divinity, and that which i'm
pels him is the highest and best part of his nat
What is a man with no moral sense2 / do
not know whether he should be called idiot
a lunatic. who is impelled to
obey the laws of God will not obey the laws of
the land. He is an outlaw Even if he does not
violate the statute law, he will break the
conventional law. and shock the common
sense of courtesy and propriety. A physician
without moral sense would risk your life
than expose his ignorance. lawyer without
moral sense would risk your fortune sooner than
confess his inability guard it. minister
without moral sense would risk your soul sooner
than reveal his unftness to guide and direct
you. The requirement. of the moral sense is
that every man should do his duty. his Whole
duty. and nothing but his duty. You want your
lawyer your physician, your accountant, and
every one with whom you come in contact TO do his
whole duty. On that performance rests the
safety Of the entire social fabric. In truth. that
performance and the forces of self that lead TO
IL constitute the perfect man. In this vein the
wise says, Let hear the conclusion of
the whole matter: Fear God and keep his COM
mandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
The word duty does not belong there. The
original passage is. for this is the whole of
man. This. too, is the sum of the wisdom OF
all the ages since the wise man spoke, for in the
high and true purposes of his creation the moral
nature is the man himself"